The Office Stars Give Out Co-Star 'Dundies' & Celebrate Chilis Coming to Scranton (Yes, Really!)
New Chili's Scranton branch recreates "original restaurant" where The Office cast filmed their first Dundies award ceremony.
Now you can be just like Pam Beesley (Jenna Fischer) and feel God in a Scranton Chili's!
With The Office (streaming now on Peacock) celebrating 20 years since its debut on NBC, Chili's is opening its first-ever Scranton location on April 7.
Chili's was christened as the esteemed destination of Michael Scott's (Steve Carell) Dundies award ceremony in Season 2, Episode 1. The memorable Dunder Mifflin awards show deemed Pam the winner of "Whitest Sneakers," Ryan as "Hottest in the Office," and Kevin as the "Don't Go in There After Me." The iconic episode cemented itself into fandom, pop culture, and the lore of Chili's Grill & Bar, despite the restaurant never actually having a location in Scranton... until now.
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Brian Baumgartner (Kevin Malone) and Kate Flannery (Meredith Palmer) chatted with NBC Insider about the special Chili's experience that fans can look forward to, and to highlight some exciting menu options that would have their characters first in line.
Everything to know about Chili's new Scranton branch for fans of The Office
Baumgartner credits the Dundies episode as one of the "most important" episodes for the show's early development, as it began to really connect with audiences. While many of The Office shenanigans happened at the Scranton Branch building, the Season 2 opener premiered at Chili's, Michael Scott's approved venue.
"With all the specific places in Scranton that we used, that we frequented, that we went to, there wasn't a Chili's," Baumgartner pointed out to NBC Insider, adding lightheartedly: "Finally, I mean it took them long enough."
The new location isn't your typical neighborhood Chili's either.
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"They recreated the original restaurant that we filmed in," Baumgartner said. "They brought in a chalk artist who did the art in the original... that was doing art for Chili's originally back in the early 2000s."
Baumgartner promises some "Dunder Mifflin nods" fans can look out for, too.
"It was very, very cool to be back there and kind of a fun and unique way to celebrate this... journey that Kate and I have been on for 20 years," Baumgartner said. "When I was actually there, they've done a really good job of recreating the space and making it very fun and a unique destination I think for fans of the show."
Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of The Office with a ScrantonMarg or Awesome Blossom at Chili's
"I can't believe that it's been 20 years," Baumgartner said. "In some ways it feels like it's been five seconds."
Flannery boasted she's a Pennsylvania native and loves that this new Chili's will give superfans another place to commemorate the show.
"Even if you're just in any Chili's you're gonna feel it, which is great," Flannery said. "It's a fan destination now."
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The architecture isn't the only thing serving up nostalgia... the menu will also feature some throwbacks to mark the occasion. The Awesome Blossom, "a deep-fried onion cut into a blossom shape with easy to pull petals," is back exclusively at the Scranton Chili's for the first time since it's 2008 removal from the restaurant chain's menu.
For fans who can't make it to Scranton, don't fret. You can still get your fill of The Office at any Chili's location by ordering the Scranton Marg; the $5 "party in a glass" will be widely available on the Scranton location's opening day, April 7.
Flannery told us that she was shocked to learn Chili's had the highest yearly sales of margaritas at American restaurants.
"They sell 25 million margaritas," she said.
"And Kate only had one million of them, so that means a lot," Baumgartner jokingly added.
Chili's will also be selling special merch to celebrate the Scranton branch opening.
Brian Baumgartner and Kate Flannery give out The Office cast Dundies
Of course, what trip to a Chili's in Scranton would be complete without actual Dundies? So we asked Baumgartner and Flannery to give out some awards of their own.
And the Dundie goes to...
- Most likely to text The Office cast group chat: Creed Bratton or Rainn Wilson
- Most likely to break in a scene: Mindy Kaling
- Most likely to cause others to break in a scene: Steve Carell
- Most likely to break something on set: Rainn Wilson (Though Baumgartner did stop to wonder, "Oh God, was it me?")
- Best Red Head on the show: "Meredith Palmer, baby," Flannery said, referencing her character's loss to Erin Hannon (Ellie Kemper) in Season 7, Episode 20 in "Michael's Last Dundies"
Brian Baumgartner and Kate Flannery reveal what they took from The Office set
Flannery showed off her second Dundie during our interview, sharing that she took it from the set as a keepsake.
"You know what, I'm not joking that is — I have called that my biggest regret," Baumgartner said. "I didn't take one."
However, Baumgartner did share that he took Kevin's jar of M&Ms from the set.
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Flannery divulged that the production "had a bunch" of Dundies made during Michael's final award ceremony, since Meredith destroyed so many when she didn't win Best Red Head.
"So I have a couple," Flannery admitted, laughing. "So many businesses have like these little award shows based off the Dundies... Michael Scott sort of opened the door for little businesses to have like a dorky award show and own it and live it and be proud, so it's kind of fantastic that Chili's was the first place where he did the Dundies on The Office."
Every season of The Office is now streaming on Peacock, along with the extended cut SuperFan episodes.
